Load-binder.



No. 65|;257. Patented :une 5; |900.

J. MORTENSN.

-LOAD BINDER.r

(Application filel Feb. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT firmen.

JOHN MORTENSON, OF NEIHART, MONTANA.

LOAD-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 651,257, dated-.T une 5, 1900. Application iiled. February l5, 1900. Serial No, 5,398. (No model.)

To ftZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MORTENSON, residing at Neihart, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Load-Binders, `of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in flexible binders for loads of logs, lumber, or other material,which binders are constructed of chains and levers so connected and adapted to be so manipulated that the chain proper may be drawn tightly around the load and secured when under due tension.

My improvement is embodied in the particular features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view showing my binder applied to a load upon a wagon. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the lever, with binding-chain attached and also engaged with the jaws thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lever. Fig. 4t is a cross-section ofthe leverjaws, showing the binding-chain engaging them.

The chief parts of my binder are the forked lever 1, its locking or securing chain 2, the long binding-chain proper, 3, and short staychain 4. The latter is linked to the binding-chain 3 and provided with a hook, and the lever-locking chain 2 is attached to the outer end of the lever and also provided with a hook. The lever lhas curved parallel forks or jaws la, and the binding-chain 3 is pivoted at l", between the straight shanks of said jaws, adjacent to the lever-handle or lever proper--that is to say, the pivot l, to which the terminal chain-link is loosely attached, traverses the slot between the jaw-Shanks, and thereby a more compact joint or connection is formedl and any projection on the outer side of the lever is avoided, so that the latter is not liable to catch on a log or other portion of a load.

A peculiarity of the jaws l is that they are beveled inwardly on both their concave and convex sides or edges, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus adapted to receive or accommodate the oval links of the chain 3 when the binder is applied to a load of logs or other material, as illustrated in Figi.. To thus applythebinder,

purpose of again applying leverage to strain the chain 3 still tighter. The lever l may then be secured or locked in position by means of the chain 2, whose terminal hook may be engaged with the binder chain below the point where the lever-jaws engage the latter, or the hook may be engaged with any other fixedobject on or adjacent to the load. In the binding operation the chain-link that engages the jaws la is pushed inward, (see Fig.

4,) so that it is in contact with the link that is pivoted at l" to the jaws between their shanks. Thus the shortest and greatest possible leverage is obtained, and consequently the chain 3 may be strained to the highest degree practicable with the apparatus. Itis therefore an important feature that the slot of the jaws la extends beyond the pivot lb. The double bevel of the jaws la allows them to be inserted between chain-links that are very close to each other. Thus a chain having very short thick links may be used, and yet the lever-jaws, being wide in their outer sides, have due strength and rigidity. The bevel on the concave side of the jaws also provides a larger bearing-surface and iriner seat for the links.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The improved load-binder, comprising the lever having jaws which are curved and provided with straight shanksbetween which the slot extends inward, a pivot crossing said slot between the jaw-Shanks, a binding-chain attached to said pivot and lying between the jaws, and stay and locking chains connected with the bindingchain and lever, respectively, as shown and described.

2. The improved. load-binder comprising the lever provided with curved jaws which IOO are separated by a slot as shown having their inner or concave edges beveled inwardly, the binding-chain, pivoed between the jaws at the rear end of the slot, and having rounded links adapted to pass between the jaws and fit upon the bevels, as shown and described.

3. The improved load-binder comprising the lever provided with curved parallel jaws which are beveled inwardly on both sides,

and abinding-cliain pivoted between the jaws 1o 

